Roger Federer was a winner in more ways than one last year.
The world's No. 1-ranked player was honored on Tuesday as the ATP Tour's player of the year for 2007. He also won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for the fourth consecutive year and the Fans' Favorite Award for the fifth consecutive time.
"The sportmanship award is voted by my fellow players and it is a great recognition for me," Federer said in a statement. "It is equally important to be voted by the fans as their favorite player. 2007 was a fantastic year for me."
Bob and Mike Bryan of the US won the Doubles Team of the Year and Fans' Favorite awards, each for the third straight year. The brothers won 11 titles last year.
"It was a very special year," Mike Bryan said. "Being voted fan favorite is also very important to us. Wherever we go the fans support us and make us feel really great."
Novak Djokovic, who'll defend his title at the Sony Ericsson Open which starts Wednesday in South Florida, won the most improved player award for the second-straight year.
Other top award winners included: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, newcomer of the year; Igor Andreev, comeback player of the year; and Ivan Ljubicic, Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year.
The best player in tennis has been awfully average this year.
Federer is off to his worst start since 2000, when he was 18 and still three years from his first Grand Slam title. In three tournaments he has yet to reach a final, and he has lost three of his past six matches.
Not that anyone will be eager to face Federer at the Sony Ericsson Open, which was to begin yesterday. He's a two-time champion and top-seeded, and he's sure to be highly motivated to jump-start his season.
But for the moment, the debate about whether Federer's the best player ever has given way to another question: Is his game in decline?
At just 26, it's unlikely. But Federer has so far this year given his long-suffering opponents reason to dream.
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